Equipment for conditioning and packaging a product

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a system whereby a product is sealed in a fusible plastic wrapper by shriveling and fusing portions of the latter and the product is conditioned or treated prior to packaging or wrapping.

United States Patent, [1 1 Noor Jan. 15, 1974 EQUIPMENT FOR CONDITIONING AND PACKAGING A PRODUCT [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: David A. Noor, Fort Wayne, Ind. UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assigneez No" Engineen-hgManuiacmring 1,850,031 3/1932 Rayson 99/194 p Fort Wayne Ind. 2,267,789 12/1941 Conn 99/194 3,220,333 1 H1965 Davison 99/194 [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1971 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins [21] Appl' Attorney-Charles S. Penfold Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 797,134, Feb. 6, 1969, Pat. No. [57] ABSTRACT I 1712020 The invention is directed to a system whereby a prodnot is sealed in a fusible plastic wrapper by shriveling 99/112153, and fusing portions of the latter and the product is l 5 g i 5 194 conditioned or treated prior to packaging or wrapping.

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SHEET 08 0F 1 3 Dav/J A/o rr ATTORWEY PATENTE'DJAK 15 1914 3 7 85 2 76 sum 09 or 13 sse' 555 5 9 "552 I vsaa 526 I INVENTOR D d via /I Vorr ATTORNEY mtmeum 15 m4 3. 785 27s SHEET 110F 13 EQUIPMENT FOR CONDITIONING AND PACKAGING A PRODUCT for feeding wrappers onto the conveyor, a dispenser for feeding the products to a conditioner which removes the frost and selectively places the products upon the wrappers, an assembly or means for effecting a partial wrapping or prewrap of the products while the products are transported by theconveyor, and a sealer through which the partially wrapped products travel for the purpose of changing the structural characteristics of the wrapper by shriveling and shrinking portions thereof whereby to provide a rib for sealing each product in a wrapper and which may be easily ripped or pulled away to facilitate removal of the wrapper when the product is ready for use.

One of the significant objects of the invention is to provide a wrapper feed assembly which is preferably operable in conjunction with the elongated conveyor above referred to for feeding a rool of plasticmaterial thereto in such a manner that a'free end portion thereof will be continuously directed onto a slightly inclined suspended area of the conveyor and an electri cally heated movable cutter device will successively engage the material while on such area as it unwindsfor the purpose of severing or cutting the material into wrappers for deposit at predetermined longitudinally spaced positions on the conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide the wrapper feed assembly with a plurality of controls for synchronizing the operation of the conditioner with other components of the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system in which the prewrap assembly thereof is associated with the conveyor and wrapper feed assembly in a manner whereby after the product is freed of frost by the conditioner the latter will deposit each product substantially centrally. on substantially one-half portion of each wrapper. so that a blast or current of air from the prewrap assembly will direct the other half portion of the wrapper against and over a former onto an upper moistened surface of each product for. adherance thereto. The size of the wrappers are preferably predetermined so that the halves or opposed portions thereof will extend or project laterally from edge portions of the product in order to provide sufficient excess material which may be shrunk and shriveled when the wrapped products are subjected to heat in an oven or chamber constituting a component of the sealer above referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conditioner which is operatively associated with the dispenser whereby the latter will readily accommodate one or a plurality of rows of products of variable sizes without prior manual adjustment of any of its components and wherein provision is made for maintaining the products in each row in a tilted back stacked relation while the products are fed or pushed off inclined ways to a high point or location thereon where they selectively slide backwardly down an apron and discharge to the conditioner, or if so desired, directly onto the wrappers in the event that the conditioner is not utiliz'ed as a component of the system.

A particularly significant object of the invention is to provide a conditioner assembly which serves to condi tion frozen products such as frost coated slices of meat by removing the. frost and cleansing the product by applying a film or thin layer of liquid. to the surface of the products so thatwhen the products are refrozen in a wrapper, the film of moisture will set to bond the wrapper to the product to obtain a frost-free package whereby the material or true characteristics of the product will be clearly presented to customers for purchase. The film or layer of liquid is preferably sprayed onto the upper face and edges of each product as it is conveyed up an inclined surface for eventual deposit onto a wrapper previously fed to and located on the conveyor by the wrapper feed assembly and cutter device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condi tioner of the character above described in which. an upper wall of the sump constitutes the inclined surface and any surplus liquid sprayed onto the product will lubricate the inclined surface to promote travel of the product thereon and apply a film of liquid to a bottom face or surface of the product and then drain off into the sump. The apparatus or system offers other advantages with respectto efficiency, continuity in. the operation of the various components thereof,- capacity. of output, durability and uniformity in the resultant product. 7

Additional objects and advantages of the invention or I inventions above referred to will become apparent on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with portions broken away for I purposes of illustrating certain structure;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial section showing more in detail the mode of conveying the products through the dispenser;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse section showing details of a guide constituting a component of the dispenser;

FIG. 8 is a modified arrangement showing the dispenser arranged for delivering the products directly to the prewrap assembly without utilizing the conditioner;

FIGS. 9 through I3 are directed to the conditioner and FIG. 9 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the conditioner, with portions in section for the purpose of illustrating details of construction;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line ll-II of FIG. I0;

FIG. 12 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on line 12-12 of FIG. '11;-

FIG. 13 is a side view of one of the spray nozzles utilized in the conditioner;

FIGS. 14 through 22 are directed to a wrapper feed assembly and cutter device and FIG. 14 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of a portion of the wrapper feed assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the wrapper feed assembly showing the operative relationship of certain of the movable components thereof;

FIG. 18 is a partial vertical longitudinal view taken through the structure shown in FIG. 16 for the purpose of showing details of the structure;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the cutter device showing details of its construction;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view which shows, among other things, the operative relationship and purposes of certain controls of the system or apparatus;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of the cutter device;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged partial perspective view, with portionsin section, of one of the rollers utilized in conjunction with the wrapper feed;

FIG. 23 is a layout of the prewrap assembly which is utilized in conjunction with the conditioner and wrapper feed; I

FIGS. 24, 25, 26, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 29, and 30 are directed to the sealer assembly or structure and FIG. 24 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 25 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a speed reducer operatively associated with the structure for synchronizing the movement of conveyor belts constituting components of the assembly;

FIG. 27 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 27-27 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 27a is an enlarged transverse section taken through the upper belt of the assembly;

FIG. 27b is an enlarged transverse section through the lower belt of the assembly;

FIG. 28 is a vertical section taken through the assembly shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 29 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 30-30 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing one of the products prewrapped or partially wrapped for travel through the sealer;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the product showing its resultant sealed state or condition after having passed through the sealer;

FIG. 33 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on line 33-33 of FIG. 32 showing the shriveled or shrunk laterally extending portions of the wrapper which form the sealing rib or joint about the major portion of the resultant product;

FIG. 34 is a perspective showing whereby the seal may be ripped or torn away to facilitate access to the wrapped product when ready for use;

FIG. 36a is a modified electrical input side of the electrical system; and

FIGS. 35 through 38 are directed to the electrical circuitry.

The system or apparatus, may be modified in various respects as will be explained more in detail subsequently but as exemplified in FIG. I, the system preferably includes: a dispenser generally designated 1 for selectively conveying products such as frsot coated meat to a conditioner 300 which serves to remove the frost from the product and convey the defrosted products for deposit onto wrappers of fusible sheet material previously deposited on the elongated conveyor by a wrapper feed assembly 200; a prewrap assembly 400 which serves to fold or move a portion of the wrapper against or about the product to partially wrap the same; a sealer assembly 500 which receives the partially wrapped product and serves to fuse. portions of each wrapper to seal a product therein; and a cabinet 600 provided with suitable controls for controlling the operation of the various components or assemblies of the system which will now be described hereinafter. It should be noted that the dispenser is provided with conveyor means for transporting the frost coated products to the conditioner; that the conditioner is provided with conveyor means for transporting the defrosted products to the elongated conveyor; that the sealer is provided with conveyor means; and that the elongated conveyor transfers the partially wrapped products to the conveyor means of the conditioner for conduction through the heat chamber thereof.

The claims in the subject application are primarily directed to the conditioner and its operative relationship with adjacent components of the system.

DISPENSER 1 The dispenser may be designed and constructed in various ways and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, serves to successively feed a pair of rows or stacks of products P to the conditioner assembly 300, above referred to, or if desired, the conditioner assembly may be omitted, in which event the product may be fed directly to the prewrap assembly 400 as exemplified in FIG. 8.

It should be observed that the dispenser as shown in disposed transversely with respect. to the conditioner and that if utilized as in FIG. 8, it would extend transversely of the prewrap 400. The dispenser may be used independently of or in conjunction with the system or apparatus shown or with equipment not disclosed.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 through 7, the dispenser, designated 1, comprises a rectangular boxlike frame 2 which is supported in an inclined position by a pair of short legs 3 and a pair of long legs 4 (only one of each of the legs are shown). The pairs of legs 3 and 4 are jointed by side braces 5 and by end braces not shown. The frame 2 may be designed and constructed in various ways, but as illustrated, it is preferably open at the bottom and includes a pair of parallel side walls 6 and 7 and a pair of end walls 8 and 9.

The side walls 6 and 7 are respectively provided with upper inturned continuations providing planar ways or tracks 10 and 11 and with lower inturned flanges 12. The end walls 8 and 9 are provided with inturned upper and lower flanges 13 which engage the inner surfaces of the lower flanges 12 and the ways and 11. The side walls 6 and 7 and end walls 8 and 9 may be secured together by any mode desired such as by screws or bolts 14. e

The frame also includes a rectangular planar plate providing a center way or track which is common to and located between the ways 10 and 11. More specifically in this respect, the ways 10, 11, and 15 are located in the same plane and the center way 15 is larger than the ways 10 and 11 and is spaced therefrom by a pair of longitudinal openings or slots 16 and 17.

A pair of transverse shafts 18 and 19 are rotatably mounted on the side walls 6 and 7 of the frame. A first pair of aligned sprockets 20 and'21 and a second pair of aligned sprockets 22 and 23 are respectively carried by the shafts l8 and 19. A belt in the form of a chain 24 is carried by sprockets 20 and 21 and a belt in the form of a chain 25 is carried by the sprockets 22 and 23. A sprocket 26 is also carried by the shaft 19 and a belt 27 connects the sprockets 26 with a sprocket 28 carried by a speed reducer associated withan electric motor 29 provided with a switchS29. This motor is mounted on a'platform 30 carried by a pair of the upper braces 5 as shown in FIG. 4.

An elongated bar or rail 31 is supported by suitable end fittings 32 carried by the end walls 8 and 9 of the frame 2 for supporting the bar directly below and in spaced relation to the longitudinal opening or slot 17. A second bar 33 corresponding to the bar 31 is similarly supported below the opening or slot 16. The bars 31 and 33 are preferably square in cross-section and slides 34 and 35 are respectively mounted thereon.

The slides may be designed and constructed in various ways but as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each prefera bly comprises four planar bearing members 36, 37, 38, and 39 of Nylon which are secured together in a square tube 40 by four screws 40 to provide a square formation which smoothly slidably receives one 'of the bars without the necessity of lubrication. The bearing members may be constructed of material other than Nylon. Each of the slides is provided with an abutment prefer ably in the form of a hook 41 which is adapted to periodically engage or receive an abutment in the form of a cross-pin 42 carried by a chain. The hook may be constructed of a pair of angled members which are preferably secured in abutting relation by screws or equivalent means and the cross-pinf is secured to upstanding portions of a pair of special side links of a chain.

The slide 34 on the bar 31 is preferably provided with an upstanding L-shaped bracket 43 which extends through the slot 17 and is provided with a planar plate constituting a mover or pusher 44. The other slide 35 on the bar 33 is similarly provided with a bracket 45 and a mover 46. It should be observed that the mover 44 and chain 24 constitute one conveyor; that the mover 46 and chain 25 constitute another conveyor; and that the movers or pushersare disposed at oblique angles of preferably 10 with reference to the plane formed by the ways 10, 11, and 15 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 so that, for example, a plurality of products P of fairly generally uniform cross-dimensions or sizes may be stacked to lean back or tilt to the right against the mover or plate 46 and with their lower edges or portions engaging the Ways so that such edges or portions will be the first to leave the ways as the products slide off high points of the ways. The mover or pusher plate 44 overlies the ways 11 and 15 and the mover or plate 46 overlies the ways 10 and 15. The side walls 6 and 7 of the frame 2 are preferably provided with upwardly extending elongated continuations 47 which assist in preventing accidental lateral discharge of the stacked products while they are being conveyed upwardly and forwardly on the ways.

The upper left extremity of the frame is preferably provided with a downturned inclined apron 48 which is connected to the end wall 8 of the frame for the purpose of successively delivering the products to the conditioner 300. The apron is of a'width substantially corresponding to the width of the frame and is provided with a pair of independently operable switches S49 and S50, each having an inclined actuator 51 which extends upwardly through an opening provided therefor in the apron so that, for example, each of the products P in the row shown in FIG. 3, on reaching the high point on the ways 10 and 15, will fall back and slide down the apron to cause the lower edge'of the product to engage the actuator to operate the switch S49 and then slide flatwise therebeyond and through a side opening 307 in the conditioner. The switches S49 and S are connected to the switch S29 of the motor 29 and to a control box generally designated 53 which will be later de scribed. v

The switches S49 and S50 are connected in parallel and in series with the instrumentalities in the control box 53 and constitute components of the electrical circuitry exemplified in FIGS. 35 through 38. The electrical circuitry is such that any desired number of products preferably within a range of sizes may be stacked against either or both of the movers or pushers 44 and 46 so that, for example, after one row has been completely dispensed, the other row will automatically take over and continue to direct products to the conditioner. The movers are manually selectively retractible and products may be manually placed or loaded into the dispenser against either one of the movers while the other is conveying.

The dispenser is preferably provided with a brake device, generally designated 52, for the purpose of pre- .venting over-run of either of the conveyors. More specifically, the brake device serves to control the operation of the shaft 19 which is driven by the motor 29. This device is primarily supported on the end wall 9 of the frame 2 and among other things, includes the control box 53 above referred to which contains relays (shown in the electrical circuitry), a stationary arm 54 which carries a fixed electrically operable magnetic component 55 and a movable magnetic component 56 which is keyed to the shaft 19 and which when energized serves to forcibly engage the stationary component 55 and prevent rotation of the shaft and when deenergized permits free rotation of the shaft. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of conductors 57 connect the control box 53 with a switch S296, the latter of which forms part of a control system of the wrapper feed assembly 200 as shown in FIG. 20. The box is also connected to the motor 29 by a pair of conductors 58 and to a footswitch 860 by a pair of conductors 59. The

organization is preferably such that manual closing of the switch S29 will operate the motor 29 to cause sithe actuator 51 of the switch S49 is depressed by a product to close this switch, the motor 29 is stopped and the brake 52 is operated to also prevent rotation of the shaft 19. During these non-operative periods of the motor and shaft 19, the foremost product in a row previously fed to the conditioner will be transported or conveyed therefrom onto one of a plurality of wrappers 252 being moved forwardly on the elongated conveyor which is designated as component 212 of the wrapper feed assembly 200. The switch S296 of the wrapper feed control system is connected to the control box 53 and when opened serves to restart the motor 29 and deactivate the electric brake 52. The footswitch S60 acutally serves as an emergency switch which when closed immediately stops the operation of the dispenser. The organization is preferably such that the switches S49 and S50 serve to respectively independently control the step-by-step movement of the movers of the dispenser. This operative relationship between the dispenser and the control system of the wrapper feed 200 is preferably such that the control system serves to place the dispenser either in an operative condition whereby actuation of the switches S49 and S50 will operate the movers or in an inoperative condition. The motor 29 may be turned on" or of by a switch S29 on the control unit 600, by a switch S2 on a panel 430 of the control assembly of the wrapper feed or by plugging the extension cord shown in FIG. 4 directly into an electrical source, all of which will be described more in detail subsequently in connection with the electrical circuitry.

WRAPPER FEED 200 The wrapper feed assembly 200 may be utilized as a component of the system as shown in FIG. 1 or, if desired, as an independent unit, or in conjunction with other equipment not shown.

More particularly, certain of the wrapper feed structure, as depicted in FIGS. 14 through 22, is common to the prewrap assembly 400. The wrapper feed includes an elongated rectangular inverted channel 201 supported horizontally by a frame including two pairs of legs 202 and 203. The channel has a top planar wall or platen 204 and a pair of parallel side walls 205 having lower inturned flanges. The left ends of the side walls 205 preferably support adjustable side plates or members 205, which in turn rotatably carry an idler roller 206. Extensions 207 are preferably detachablysecured to the right ends of the side walls by bolts 208 and support a drive roller 209 having a shaft 210 rotatably carried by the extensions. A sprocket 211 is fixed on the shaft 210 and an endless conveyor or belt 212 is supported on the idler roller 206 and the drive roller 209 so that an upper portion of the belt will ride on the platen 204 of the channel. The plates 205 at the output end of the conveyor may be adjusted to control the tautness of the belt 212. A housing 213 is supported directly under the frame 201 and a split primary shaft 214 is journalled therein and has end sections respectively carrying sprockets 215 and 216, with a member on one section having a sprocket 217 and large and small gears 217 on opposite sides of the sprocket 217 as depicted in FIG. 20. An electric motor 218, as shown in FIG. 15, is supported on the frame and a speed reducer 219 driven by the motor is connected to the sprocket 217 on shaft 214 by a chain or belt 220 for imparting rotation to the right section of this shaft. A

chain or belt 211 connects the sprockets 211 and 215 respectively fixed on the shaft 210 and on.a section of the primary shaft 214 so that rotation of the latter will also impart rotation to the drive roller 209 to cause the belt 212 to travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 14 through 18.

The wrapper feed 200 is operatively associated with the input end of the conveyor belt 212 and related structure, and includes an idler roller 222 for the wrapping material and is rotatable on a shaft 223, the latter, as best shown in FIG. 16, having apertured ends through which threaded elements 224 extend and connect with a pair of fittings 225. Each of the fittings is detachably and pivotally supported on an extension 207 by a screw or bolt 226 and a helical spring 227 is carried by each of the elements 224 for disposition between a fitting and a head 228 of an element for biasing or resiliently urging the roller 222 against an unwinded end portion 229 of a roll 230 of plastic wrapper material. A driven roller 231 for the wrapper material has a shaft 232 which is also journalled on the extensions 207. A sprocket 233 is fixed on the shaft 232 and. a chain 234 connects sprocket 233 with the sprocket 216 on a left section of the shaft 214. The pivotal positioning and biasing adjustment of the roller 222 may be readily controlled by manipulating the screws 226 and the elements 224. The roller 222 is preferably provided with a plurality of axially spaced annular resilient members 235 for effectively engaging and stabilizing the wrapper material as it is being fed to the conveyor 212. As shown in FIG. l5,a roll 230' of wrapper material of a greater or lesser width than the roll 230 may be utilized in lieu of the latter.

M Attention is directed to fhe fact that an anti-reverse mechanism is preferably embodied in the driven roller 231 for the strip of wrapper material. This mechanism may be designed and constructed in any mode desired, but as shown in FIG. 22, includes an annular member 236 which is fixed on the shaft 232 and provided with circumferentially spaced peripheral notches 237 which respectively loosely receive brake or clutch members in the form of rollers'238. A ball bearing assembly 239 is carried by the shaft 232 and is housed in the roller 231. This roller is also provided with an end wall 240 and a ring element 241 which is fixedly secured in the roller and has an internal annular braking surface which may be engaged by the members 238 whereby to permit free-wheeling or rotation of the roller in one direction as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, and prevents reverse rotation of the roller 231 in an opposite direction and backrunning of the'wrapper roll 230.

The i ll disaster'lfiaieamlas an insert 242 through which a shaft 243 extends. This shaft has ends which are journalled in bearings 244 mounted on parallel arms 245 extending outwardly from the legs 203 of the frame. The bearings are preferably of a split character so that upper parts 246 thereof may be selectively adjusted and clamped against the ends of the shaft by manipulating wing nuts 247 for controlling the friction between the shaft and bearings whereby the outflow of the material may be regulated to prevent overrunning thereof.

fi'ar'igm 'e'fiiisiif ili side walls 205 of the channel 201 are also preferably provided with a pair of parallel uprights 248 which are preferably vertically and detachably adjustable in a vertical plane by a pair of screws or bolts 208 having shanks which extend through slots 249 in the uprights and connect with the side walls 205 of the channel 201 as shown in FIGS.

and 16. v

The idler roller 250, above referred to, is similar to the idler roller 222 and has ends extending through vertical slots in the uprights 248 for support in the same manner as the ends of the idler roller 222 for adjus'tably biasing the roller 250 downwardly so that annular resilient members thereon will engage the end portion 229 of the wrapper material and the latter against an upper portion of the endless conveyor belt 212. Thus, the wrapper material, as it unwinds from the roll 230, is resiliently supported between the idler roller 222 and the driven roller 231 and also between the idler roller 250 and the belt 212. This unique arrangement, among other things, serves to effectively stabilize and move the material forwardly on the belt 212 and maintain a portion of the material between the idler rollers 222 and 250 relatively taut and particularly on intervening area 229 in an inclined condition for severance or cutting by a cutter device generally designated 251. It should be observed that the drive roller 209 is so mounted that a portion of the belt 212 carried thereby V is supported in an elevated or inclined position relative to the platen 204 between the roller 209 and idler roller 250 and serves as a resilient support or cushion for the area 229 of the wrapper material and thereby facilitate cutting of the material by the cutter device.

Attention is directed to the important fact that the speed of the idler roller 250 induced by the forward motion of the belt 212 is greater than that of the driven roller 231 and idler roller driven thereby and this difference in speed is what causes the spacing between the wrappers or sheets resulting from the periodic cutting of the strip material by-the cutter device. More specifically, the diameter of the idler roller 250 and speed of the conveyor 212 is greater than the diameter and speed of the driven roller 231 and this accounts for the spacing between the wrappers, which spacings correspond in number to the number of revolutions of the cutter device. The rollers 222 and 231 constitute the means for feeding the strip .to the conveyor and the conveyor and ilder roller 250 constitute the means for advancing the wrappers on the conveyor. The cutter device 251 preferably employed for severing or cutting the wrapper material into wrappers, pieces or sheets 252 of predetermined rectangular size may be designed and constructed in various ways. As depicted in FIGS. 15 through 19, more specifically, the device preferably includes a solid stainless steel shaft 253 having extremities which are rotatably supported on the uprights 248. This shaft is operatively connected by a chain 254 to a split or sectionalized shaft 255 which is rotatably mounted in a pair of supports 256 which in combination a support 256' also support the sections of shaft 214 above referred to. The cutter device 251 also preferably includes a relatively heavy bar 257 of rectangular cross-section which is secured to the shaft 253 by screws 258 which extend diametrically through the shaft and into the bar as depicted. in FIG. 19. The bar is generally referred to in the trade as a heat sink and is made of aluminum for heat retention. Insulating means, such as a mass or layer of asbestos 259 is interposed between the shaft and bar. An elongated strip 260 of material, preferably of steel and rectangular in cross-section, is detachably secured by screws 261, or

equivalent means, to the left side of the bar 257 as viewed in FIG. 19. This strip or straight edge constitutes a cutting blade which extends a predetermined distance below'a lower edge of the bar and is preferably coated with Teflon so that at least an edge 260 is covered thereby. An insulated electric heating element 262 is preferably secured lengthwise against an outer or left face of the strip 260 by clips 263 and screws 261 which extend through the clips and strip and into the bar. This element serves to impart heat to the strip and its retention and stabilization in the bar 257.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, a pair of axially spaced annular commutators 264 are fixedly secured to one end of the shaft 253 and insulated there from by insulator sleeves 265. A pair of insulated conductors 266are respectively secured to the ends of the of the conductors is preferably comprised of two pieces which are connected to a thermostatic switch TI-I266' secured to the back of the bar 257, as shown in FIG. 17, for controlling the current to the heating element and maintaining the bar at a substantially uniform temperature. A block 267 of insulation is secured to one of the uprights 248 and a pair of yieldable contacts 268 are carried thereby and respectively engage the commutators. These contacts are connectible with a source of electricity through conductors 651 and a switch S5 on a panel of the control unit 600 for operating the heating element 262.

The cutter device 251, during each revolution in the clockwise direction depicted in FIG. 16, causes the edge 260 to intermittently transversely engage the strip of wrapper material 229 at the inclined area 229' as it is uncoiled upon the belt 212 and thereby cut the material by melting to provide the wrappers 252 which are of corresponding size. When the edge 260 of the blade 260 engages the wrapper material the inclined portion of the belt 212 thereunder may slightly yield so as to promote the cutting of the material. The temperature of the blade or strip 260 and bar 257 is preferably such that the material will be instantaneously melted or disintegrated when the edge 260' of the strip touches the material.

As alluded to above, the speed of the belt 212 is somewhat greater than that of the speed of the material advanced by the rollers 231 and 222 so that the wrappers as cut will be caused to successively advance at a sufficient rate or speed to effect a substantially equal spacing therebetween and locate'them on the belt for successively receiving the products as they are directed substantially onto one half, of the areas of the wrappers as shown in FIG. 14. It is important that the products be centered or placed at predetermined locations on the wrapper so that when the latter is folded, sufficient portions thereof will extend laterally of the product for shrinking and completely sealing each of the products in a wrapper as evidenced in FIG. 32.

Referring further to the control system depicted in FIG. 20, the split shafts 214 and 255, above referred to, are connected by gears 269 and the shaft 214 is provided with a clutch 270 operable by a solenoid 270' and the shaft 255 with a clutch 271 operable by a solenoid 271'. A split shaft 272 is rotatably supported in a position transverse to the shaft 214 and has a gear 273 which engages the smaller of the gears 217' on the shaft 214. The shaft 272 is also provided with a clutch 274 operable by a solenois 274 and with a sprocket 275 which is adapted for connection by a chain or belt 276 with a drive shaft 328 of the conditioner 300 as depicted in FIG. 9. The larger gear 217 on the shaft 214 is connected to a gear 277 of a variable speed drive or changer 278. This changer is provided with a cam 279 which actuates a switch S280 and has a control 280' for manually adjusting the changer. The cam 279 associated with the changer 278 is operated by an output shaft of the latter. The output speed is manually controllable by the control 280 so that the periodicity of the operation of the cutter device 251 determines the required size or length of the wrappers. The switch S280 is connected by three conductors 281, 282 and 283 to a timer assembly 285" and to the solenoid 271 by a conductor 284. The timer assembly, which may be regulated by a manual control 285 through timer 285, is also connected to the solenoid 274' by a pair of conductors 286 and to a switch S296 by conductors 294. The switch S296 is connected to the control box 53 of the dispenser by the conductors 57. A pair of primary or input conductors 287 from a source of electricity are connected to a switch S2 on the control unit 600. This switch is connected by conductors 288 to a transformer T and conductors 286 connect this transformer to the timer assembly 285". The switch S2 is also connected by conductors 290 to a switch S12 and the latter is connected to the switch S3 by a conductor 293 and 291 and to the solenoid 271 by a conductor 299. The switch S3 is connected to the solenoid 270' by a conductor 293'. The timer 285 enclosed in timer assembly 285" serves to control the amount of delay between the time the switch S280 is energized and the clutch 274 is activated so that the product being discharged from the conditioner 300 will be correctly located or centered on a predetermined area of the wrapper 252.

The timer 285 is manually adjustable by the control 285' to provide a range of 0.5m 5 second delay between the time that the switch S280 is closed and the time that the solenoid 274' is energized. This adjustment offers a unique setup whereby each product is caused to fall substantially in the center of one-half of each wrapper irrespective of the size of the wrapper or product. As the clutch 274 is completing its cycle or revolution, the pin 297 on the movable component 295 of the clutch 274 will close the switch S296 to restart the motor 29 of the dispenser, only when the conditioner is inoperative or at rest, to cause another one of theproducts in the row backed by the mover 46 to travel forwardly and down the apron 48 until the dispenser is again stopped by actuation of the switch S49.

Each of the clutches 270, 271 and 274, above referred to, is preferably of a single revolution type in which one component 295 of each clutch is fixed to a section of each of the split shafts and its other component 295 is rotatable with respect to the fixed component and provided with a pin or abutment 297 for periodically engaging an actuator 297 of each solenoid for controlling its operation.

As alluded to above, the dispenser causes the products to travel step-by-step to the conditioner 300 and as each of the products, for example, in a row backed by the mover 46 slides down the apron 48, it actuates the switch S49 which stops the motor 29 and actuates the electric brake device 52 associated with the shaft 19 of the dispenser as depicted in FIG. 4 to stop rotation of this shaft and movement of both of the conveyors of the dispenser 1. As each of the products is deposited in the conditioner 300 while the conveyor of the latter is motionless, the switch S280 of the control system shown in FIG. 20 is actuated by the cam 279 to energize the solenoid 271 to operate the clutch 271 to effect a single revolution of the cutter device 251. Actuation of the switch S280 also starts the timer 285 and which, after a preset delay thereof, will actuate the solenoid 274' to operate the clutch 274 to cause the conveyor of theconditioner to move forward one step or a predetermined distance so that each of the products will be correctly deposited and centered on one-half of the wrapper 252 being moved forwardly on the conveyor 212 as depicted in FIG. 14.

Summarizing and elucidating further respecting the operation of the control system of the wrapper feed as exemplified in FIG. 20 and certain related components, the power source therefor is obtained from the motor 218 which drives the split shaft 214 through the agency of the belt 220 to rotate the driven shaft 232 or roller 231 to feed or advance the wrapper material to the conveyor 212. The motor 218 is controlled by a switch $1 on the control unit 600. The clutch 270 is associated with the shaft 214 and its solenoid 270 is operable by the switch S3 located on panel 430 to control the operation of the clutch. The shaft 214 is connected by the belt 221 to the roller 209 for operating the conveyor 212 and by the gears 269 to the split shaft 255 for driving the latter. The clutch 271 associated with the shaft 255 and its solenoid 271 is operable by the switch S12 for controlling the operation of the clutch 271 to control rotation of the cutter device 251 which in turn is connected by the belt 254 to the shaft 255. The split shaft 272 is connected by gears 217' and 273 to the shaft 214 and has a clutch 274 associated therewith so that its solenoid 274 is operable through the timer 285 and switch S280 whereby to control the step-by-step movement of either of the conveyors of the dispenser 1, the shaft 353 of the conditioner being connected to the shaft 272 by the belt 276.

As stated above, the switch S1 on the control unit 600 controls the motor or power means 218 and the switch S12 controls the operation of a solenoid 270' and 271 to control feeding of the wrapper material to the conveyor 212 and rotation of the cutter device 251. The switch S2 controls the flow of current to the transformer T, to the timer 285 and an electric eye device 415 of the prewrap, the switch S4 controls the operation of the solenoid 326' of the valve 326 of the conditioner 300 for controlling the supply of fluid to the conditioner, while switch S5 controls the operation of the heating element 262 of the cutter device. The switches .may be successively actuated in any order desired but are preferably actuated in the order of S5, S1, S2, S12, S3 and S4.

CONDITIONER 300 The conditioner generally designated 300 is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9 through 13 and as pointed out above, primarily serves to remove the coat or layer of frost and the white look of a frozen product, as well as cleanse particularly substantially parallel flat surfaces thereof by applying a film or layer of moisture thereto so that when the product is refrozen, the film of frozen moisture will bond the wrapper to the product and thereby enhance and clarify the overall natural or true 

1. A conditioner for the purpose described comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame, an elongated conveyor structure supported by said frame, an elongated track mounted on said frame below said conveyor structure, a spray device mounted on said frame, and spaced abutment means carried by said conveyor structure for selectively engaging and moving products along said track for treatment by the spray of said spray device when the latter and said conveyor structure are operated.
 2. The conditioner defined in claim 1, in which said conveyor structure comprises a pair of parallel endless belts, said abutment means bridges said belts, and said spray device is disposed above said belts for emitting a spray therebetween for engaging the products and said track.
 3. The conditioner defined in claim 1, in which said conveyor structure comprises a pair of parallel endless belts, said abutment means bridges said belts, including means for confining the spray within a predetermined area.
 4. The conditioner defined in claim 1, in which said track is inclined and its upper extremity is provided with an inlet through which some of the spray may be discharged while the products are being treated by the spray.
 5. The conditioner defined in claim 1, in which said conveyor structure comprises a pair of parallel belts, said abutment means transversely connects said belts, and said track is provided with anti-friction means whereby to facilitate movement of the abutment means thereon.
 6. The conditioner defined in claim 1, in which a side of said frame is provided with an inlet through which the products may be deposited onto the conveyor structure.
 7. The conditioner defined in claim 1, including an elongated sump disposed under said track, and said track is inclined and respectively provided with openings in its extremities through which some of the spray may flow into the sump. 